Improvement in car-couplings



J. l. VINS'ON. Cal -Couplings.

Pa terited Sept. 8,1874.

UNIT D STATES JONAHQJ. VINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF WAVELAND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ELI A. PHILLIPS, OF" SAMEPLACE.

IMPROVEMENT m CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,773, datedSeptember 8, 1874; application filed July 20, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAH J. VINSON, of Waveland, Montgomery county,Indiana, have invented a new and useful Oar-Coupling, of whichthefollowing is a specification:

My invention relates to an improved coupling for rapidly attaching carsin a secure manner, so that they are not liable to become accidentallydetached while remaining 'on the track, the details of the inventionbeing hereinafter fully described.

Figure l is a perspective" view of a portion of the platforms of tworailroad-cars provided with my improved coupling, the latter being shownin condition for engagement. Fig. 2 is a plan, showing the cars coupledby the engagement of the draw'bars. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionthrough the drawbars, showing the coupling devices in the act of beingdisengaged. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of oneof the draw-bars and its operating -key, and Fig. 5 is an enlargedvertical section through. the. disengaging-cam and its accessories.

A and B represent a portion of the platforms of two railroad-cars, saidplatform being provided with longitudinal frames 0 for supporting thedraw-bars in the following manner: Said frames are slotted at c toreceive the tenons d of two transverse bars, D D ,within which arefitted the shanks e of the draw-bars E, springs F being fitted aroundsaid shanks, and bearing against bars D, as represented. Theexposed endsof draw-bars E have the represented lance or arrow head shape G, thishead being united to the bar proper by shoulders g g. The head isrecesssed at H, to receive and retain an ordinary coupling link,when'desired. Secured by bolts 0' to the sides of bars E, and near theinner ends of the same, are spring-blades I I, which extend outwardlyalmost to the shoulders g g. The tendency of these blades is. to hug thesides of saiddraw-bars, except when they are sprung away from the sameby the action of cams J, of which one is fitted in each draw-bar, andimmediately behind the heads G.

These cams are adapted to vibrate horizontally within suitable recessesj in the drawbar, and they are provided with stems K and shafts L, thestems having an oblong pocket, 70, in them, for the reception of theflat shank m of a key, M, which is rotated by a handwheel, N, having atarget, n, applied to it. The pocket 70 is disposed longitudinally ofcam J, in order that the target a may be in line with the draw-bars Ewhenever the latter are in proper position for coupling.

Secured to the frame 0 are springs O 0, whose free ends bear against theblades I I in such a manner as to cause the latter to fit snugly up tothe sides of the draw-bars E.

The conjoint action of these two opposing springs tends to maintain thedraw-bars in a central position with reference to the cars, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1.

My car-coupling operates in the following manner: When the various partsof the device are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the target at isdisposed longitudinally of the track, and thereby indicates that thecouplings are in proper condition for engaging with each other, whichact is instantly and automatically accomplished as soon as the cars arebrought in sufficient proximity with each other. As the cars approach,the arrow-headed terminations G come in contact with each other, therebydeflecting one of the draw-bars to the right, and the other to the left,until the shoulders g g interlock, when the stress of springs O 0 act toforce the heads toward each other,

and, in so doing, causes the aforesaid shoulders to engage in the mannershown in Fig. 2. This is all that isnecessary to be done in coupling thecars, and they will remain securely united as long as they are subjectedto ordinary jars and vibrations; but when an unusual lateral surgeoccurs-as by one of the cars running off the track-the shoulders of theheads will instantly disengage from each other, thereby separating thecars, and preventing destruction of the entire train.

To uncouple the cars, the brakeman has only to rotate the hand-wheel Nuntil its target n stands at right angles to its previous position, ortransversely of the track, which act causes a corresponding revolutionof cam J, as shown in Fig.3. The ends of the cam are, by such rotation,brought in contact with the blades I I, whose free ends are pressedoutwardly with sufiicient force to separate the heads far enough todisengage the shoulders g g, and. thus uncouple the car.

When the strain of the car is on the shoulders g g of the draw-bars, thebeams D can play within the grooves c as far as may be necessary; butwhen the heads G come in contact with the platform, the other beams Dwill give enough to compensate for the same, and thereby prevent anyinjurious jar.

I claim as my invention- 1. A car-coupling consisting, essentially, ofthe laterally-vibrating draw bars E, having JONAH J. VINSON.

Attest:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, O. P. CAYLOR.

